The Indian Hill School District congratulates the 15 Indian Hill High School DECA students on their exceptional achievements at the prestigious DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) held in Orlando, Florida, from April 26 to April 29. Competing among more than 22,000 attendees from across the globe, Indian Hill students demonstrated outstanding business acumen and professional skill.
Two standout teams earned top recognition at the international event:
• Jonah Bonomo and JC Chen secured a Top 10 finish in the Financial Team Decision Making Event, placing 9th overall among approximately 190 elite teams.
• Cristina Dos Santos was recognized as a finalist in the Principles of Hospitality and Tourism category, finishing in the Top 20 out of nearly 190 competitors.
“These students put in an incredible amount of work to prepare, and they competed against the very best DECA talent from around the world,” said Indian Hill Marketing Instructor Phil Said, who mentors the DECA program in partnership with Great Oaks. “To be recognized at the international level is an extraordinary accomplishment, and I couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and professionalism.”
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Students at the ICDC face rigorous competition that tests their ability to apply academic learning to real-world business scenarios.
“We are so proud of the way our students represented Indian Hill on the international stage,” said Indian Hill High School Principal Andy Gruber. “Their performance not only showcases their intelligence and drive, but it also reflects the strength of our school’s commitment to leadership development and preparing students for future success in any field they pursue.”
DECA is a career and technical student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs with a career interest in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA enhances the preparation for college and careers by providing co-curricular programs that integrate into classroom instruction, apply learning, connect to business, and promote competition. DECA student members leverage their DECA experience to become academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders. DECA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with nearly 250,000 members in 4,000 high school and college chapters in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Germany.
Photo caption: Fifteen Indian Hill High School DECA students competed at the prestigious DECA International Career Development Conference held in Orlando, Florida, from April 26 to April 29.